A flexible material removal mechanism
By employing a tapered guide and a straightening section design in the installation component of the hose picking mechanism, combined with the expansion and tight fit of the airbag component, the positioning accuracy and stability issues of the hose picking mechanism are solved, achieving flexible hose picking and vertical holding.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TRUKING TECH LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In the existing technology, when the positioning accuracy requirement of the hose feeding mechanism is high and the air bladder expansion is irregular, the hose is prone to tilting and leakage, which affects the production stability.
The installation component design includes a first conical guide and a second conical guide, which work in conjunction with the airbag assembly to straighten the hose through the first and second guides, and the airbag expands and fits tightly against the inner wall of the hose through the gas channel to achieve flexible material handling.
It improves the stability and reliability of hose material handling, allows for a certain amount of offset, prevents hose deformation and leakage, and ensures the smooth operation of the production process.
Smart Images
Figure CN224492792U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of food and pharmaceutical packaging machinery technology, and in particular to a flexible material handling mechanism. Background Technology
[0002] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in a hose sealing machine, the robot gripper needs to remove unfilled hoses from the packaging box. To improve efficiency, it typically picks up one row at a time. Because unfilled hoses have thin walls and are easily deformed, and because they are tightly packed inside the packaging box, they are mostly supported internally. Furthermore, to ensure the stability of the production process, the products need to be kept as vertical as possible during unloading after being gripped; otherwise, it may affect subsequent production.
[0003] The earlier application CN216511426U discloses a flexible feeding mechanism and system. The material-grabbing support component is equipped with a guide and a limiting part to limit the hose radially and axially, ensuring the hose's position is fixed when it is clamped, preventing interference when multiple hoses are clamped, and facilitating subsequent workstation operations. However, in this technical solution, the airbag needs to be accurately aligned with the hose to smoothly enter the hose's interior, allowing for a small amount of offset, which increases the requirements for the positioning accuracy of the feeding mechanism. Furthermore, after inflating, the airbag is not necessarily a perfectly regular cylinder, increasing the risk of the hose tilting on the feeding mechanism and affecting material release. In addition, during frequent inflating, gaps may form between the airbag and the material-grabbing support component, leading to leakage, or even detachment from the support component, indicating that reliability needs improvement. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a flexible material handling mechanism with a simple structure, a large allowable offset, and the ability to keep the material in a vertical state.
[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
[0006] A flexible material handling mechanism includes an installation component and an airbag component disposed on the installation component. The installation component is provided with a first gas channel communicating with the airbag component. The installation component is provided with a first conical guide, a first straightening section for straightening material, a second conical guide, and a second straightening section for straightening material in sequence from bottom to top.
[0007] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: both the first guide section and the second guide section are cylindrical structures.
[0008] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: the outer diameter of the first guide section is smaller than the outer diameter of the second guide section, and the outer diameter of the second guide section is smaller than the inner diameter of the material.
[0009] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: the airbag assembly is disposed between the first guide portion and the second conical guide portion, the airbag assembly includes an airbag and a support body disposed within the airbag, the lower end of the airbag is sandwiched between the first guide portion and the support body, and the upper end of the airbag is sandwiched between the second conical guide portion and the support body.
[0010] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: the upper end of the first guide section is provided with a first horizontal section and a first inclined section located inside the first horizontal section, and the lower end of the support body is adapted to the upper end of the first guide section; the lower end of the second conical guide section is provided with a second horizontal section and a second inclined section located inside the second horizontal section, and the upper end of the support body is adapted to the lower end of the second conical guide section.
[0011] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: the mounting assembly includes a first mounting member and a second mounting member located above the first mounting member. The first tapered guide portion and the first straight guide portion are disposed on the first mounting member, and the first gas channel, the second tapered guide portion and the second straight guide portion are disposed on the second mounting member. The first mounting member is provided with a threaded hole, and the second mounting member is provided with a threaded connection portion. The threaded connection portion passes through the airbag assembly and is connected to the threaded hole; or, the second mounting member is provided with a threaded hole, and the first mounting member is provided with a threaded connection portion. The threaded connection portion passes through the airbag assembly and is connected to the threaded hole.
[0012] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: the flexible material handling mechanism also includes a material handling rod, the lower end of which is connected to the mounting assembly, and the material handling rod is provided with a second gas channel, the lower end of which is connected to the first gas channel.
[0013] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: an elastic element and a sleeve are sequentially sleeved on the outer periphery of the material picking rod. The sleeve is provided with a first limiting part, and the material picking rod is provided with a second limiting part. One end of the elastic element abuts against the first limiting part, and the other end of the elastic element abuts against the second limiting part.
[0014] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: the sleeve sidewall is provided with anti-rotation balls, the material taking rod is provided with anti-rotation grooves, and the anti-rotation balls are embedded in the anti-rotation grooves.
[0015] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: a guide sleeve is provided between the sleeve and the material taking rod.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are:
[0017] The flexible material handling mechanism disclosed in this utility model has a first conical guide at the lower part of the mounting assembly to facilitate the guidance of the first straight guide into the material, which can increase the allowable offset of the mounting assembly. A second conical guide at the upper part of the mounting assembly facilitates the guidance of the second straight guide into the material. The first and second straight guides work together to straighten the material from both above and below, which helps to keep the material in a vertical state. After the second straight guide enters the material, air can be inflated into the airbag assembly through the first gas channel, so that the airbag assembly expands and fits tightly against the inner wall of the material, realizing flexible material handling.
[0018] Other features and advantages of this invention will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the material located inside the packaging box.
[0020] Figure 2 This is a top view of the structure of the material inside the packaging box.
[0021] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention.
[0023] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.
[0024] The labels in the diagram represent:
[0025] 1. Mounting assembly; 10. First gas passage; 11. First conical guide; 12. First straight guide; 121. First horizontal section; 122. First inclined section; 13. Second conical guide; 131. Second horizontal section; 132. Second inclined section; 14. Second straight guide; 15. First mounting component; 16. Second mounting component; 161. Threaded connection; 2. Airbag assembly; 21. Airbag; 22. Support body; 3. Material; 31. Packaging box; 4. Picking rod; 41. Second gas passage; 42. Second limiting section; 43. Anti-rotation groove; 5. Elastic element; 6. Sleeve; 61. First limiting section; 62. Guide sleeve; 63. Anti-rotation ball. Detailed Implementation
[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.
[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0028] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "assembly," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0029] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0030] Figures 3 to 5 An embodiment of the flexible material handling mechanism of this utility model is shown. The flexible material handling mechanism of this embodiment includes a mounting component 1 and an airbag component 2 disposed on the mounting component 1. The mounting component 1 is provided with a first gas channel 10, which is connected to the airbag component 2. The mounting component 1 is provided with a first conical guide 11, a first straightening part 12 for straightening the material 3 (in this embodiment, the flexible material handling mechanism is used to pick up the flexible tube), a second conical guide 13, and a second straightening part 14 for straightening the material 3 in sequence from bottom to top.
[0031] In this embodiment, the flexible material handling mechanism has a first conical guide 11 at the lower part of the mounting component 1 to facilitate the guidance of the first straight guide 12 into the hose, which can increase the allowable offset of the mounting component 1. A second conical guide 13 is provided at the upper part of the mounting component 1 to facilitate the guidance of the second straight guide 14 into the hose. The first straight guide 12 and the second straight guide 14 cooperate to straighten the hose from both the top and bottom, which helps to keep the hose in a vertical state. After the second straight guide 14 enters the hose, it can be inflated into the airbag component 2 through the first gas channel 10, so that the airbag component 2 expands and fits tightly against the inner wall of the hose, realizing flexible material handling.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, both the first guide section 12 and the second guide section 14 are cylindrical structures, facilitating the handling of flexible tubes and similar materials. See details... Figure 3 To ensure secure clamping, a flat portion can be provided on the circumferential surface of the first guide portion 12 and the second guide portion 14, so that the second mounting member 16 can be tightened onto the material picking rod 4, and the first mounting member 15 can be tightened onto the second mounting member 16.
[0033] See details Figure 5 In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the first straightening part 12 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second straightening part 14, and the outer diameter of the second straightening part 14 is smaller than the inner diameter of the material 3. The smaller outer diameter of the first straightening part 12 facilitates its own entry into the hose and the second conical guide part 13 and the second straightening part 14 above it, and also helps to prevent the hose from deforming. The larger outer diameter of the second straightening part 14 helps to improve the straightening effect on the hose. The structure is reasonable and effective.
[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the airbag assembly 2 is disposed between the first guide portion 12 and the second conical guide portion 13. The airbag assembly 2 includes an airbag 21 and a support body 22 disposed within the airbag 21. The lower end of the airbag 21 is clamped between the first guide portion 12 and the support body 22, and the upper end of the airbag 21 is clamped between the second conical guide portion 13 and the support body 22. Both ends of the airbag 21 are clamped and fixed, which helps prevent leakage during repeated inflation and ensures high reliability. Preferably, the cross-section of the support body 22 is a polygonal structure (pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.), which can provide all-round support for the airbag 21 and prevent relative rotation between it and the threaded connection portion 161. There is a small gap between the threaded connection portion 161 and the inner wall of the support body 22, which helps to keep the support body 22 in a vertical state and facilitates inflation of the airbag 21.
[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper end of the first guide section 12 is provided with a first horizontal section 121 and a first inclined section 122 located inside the first horizontal section 121, and the lower end of the support body 22 is adapted to the upper end of the first guide section 12; the lower end of the second conical guide section 13 is provided with a second horizontal section 131 and a second inclined section 132 located inside the second horizontal section 131, and the upper end of the support body 22 is adapted to the lower end of the second conical guide section 13. The cooperation of the horizontal and inclined sections at the upper and lower ends can effectively clamp and seal the airbag 21, preventing leakage and movement of the airbag 21 during frequent inflation, and further improving reliability.
[0036] See details Figure 4 In this embodiment, the mounting assembly 1 includes a first mounting member 15 and a second mounting member 16 located above the first mounting member 15. A first conical guide portion 11 and a first straight guide portion 12 are disposed on the first mounting member 15, and a first gas channel 10, a second conical guide portion 13, and a second straight guide portion 14 are disposed on the second mounting member 16. The first mounting member 15 has a threaded hole, and the second mounting member 16 has a threaded connection portion 161. The threaded connection portion 161 penetrates the airbag assembly 2 and connects to the threaded hole. As the threaded connection portion 161 is gradually screwed into the threaded hole, a reliable connection between the first mounting member 15 and the second mounting member 16 is achieved, and the upper and lower ends of the airbag 21 can be effectively clamped. The structure is reasonable and effective, and easy to assemble and disassemble.
[0037] Of course, in other embodiments, the second mounting member 16 may be provided with a threaded hole, and the first mounting member 15 may be provided with a threaded connection part 161, which penetrates the airbag assembly 2 and is connected to the threaded hole.
[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flexible material handling mechanism also includes a material handling rod 4, the lower end of which is connected to the mounting assembly 1 (preferably, the lower end of the material handling rod 4 is threadedly connected to the second mounting member 16). The material handling rod 4 is provided with a second gas channel 41, the lower end of which is connected to the first gas channel 10. The material handling rod 4 facilitates the lifting, lowering, and translation of the mounting assembly 1, and can simultaneously inflate the airbag 21 through the second gas channel 41 and the first gas channel 10 in sequence.
[0039] In this embodiment, an elastic element 5 (preferably a helical spring) and a sleeve 6 are sequentially sleeved around the outer periphery of the picking rod 4. The sleeve 6 has a first limiting part 61, and the picking rod 4 has a second limiting part 42. One end of the elastic element 5 abuts against the first limiting part 61, and the other end of the elastic element 5 abuts against the second limiting part 42. By setting the elastic element 5, an axial elastic connection is achieved between the picking rod 4 and the sleeve 6. When the downward movement of the mounting assembly 1 is obstructed, the mounting assembly 1 and the picking rod 4 can move upward a certain distance, which can protect the material and the mechanism itself.
[0040] See details Figure 4 In this embodiment, the side wall of the sleeve 6 is provided with anti-rotation ball bearings 63, and the picking rod 4 is provided with anti-rotation grooves 43, with the anti-rotation ball bearings 63 embedded in the anti-rotation grooves 43. The anti-rotation ball bearings 63 and the anti-rotation grooves 43 cooperate to prevent the picking rod 4 from rotating relative to the sleeve 6. At the same time, the frictional resistance between the anti-rotation ball bearings 63 and the anti-rotation grooves 43 is small, avoiding hindrance to the up and down movement of the picking rod 4 relative to the sleeve 6. The structure is reasonable and effective.
[0041] In this embodiment, a guide sleeve 62 is provided between the sleeve 6 and the picking rod 4 to guide the up-and-down movement of the picking rod 4, prevent deviation, and reduce frictional resistance. Preferably, the guide sleeve 62 is a copper sleeve and is embedded in the side wall of the sleeve 6. Of course, in other embodiments, the guide sleeve 62 can also be installed on the outer wall of the picking rod 4.
[0042] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make many possible variations and modifications to the present invention, or modify it into equivalent embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, without departing from the content of the present invention, should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A flexible material handling mechanism, comprising an installation assembly (1) and an airbag assembly (2) disposed on the installation assembly (1), wherein the installation assembly (1) is provided with a first gas channel (10) communicating with the airbag assembly (2), characterized in that: The mounting assembly (1) is provided from bottom to top with a first conical guide (11), a first straightening section (12) for straightening the material (3), a second conical guide (13) and a second straightening section (14) for straightening the material (3).
2. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the first guide section (12) and the second guide section (14) are cylindrical structures.
3. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the first guide section (12) is smaller than the outer diameter of the second guide section (14), and the outer diameter of the second guide section (14) is smaller than the inner diameter of the material (3).
4. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The airbag assembly (2) is disposed between the first guide portion (12) and the second conical guide portion (13). The airbag assembly (2) includes an airbag (21) and a support body (22) disposed within the airbag (21). The lower end of the airbag (21) is sandwiched between the first guide portion (12) and the support body (22), and the upper end of the airbag (21) is sandwiched between the second conical guide portion (13) and the support body (22).
5. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first guide section (12) has a first horizontal section (121) at its upper end and a first inclined section (122) located inside the first horizontal section (121). The lower end of the support body (22) is adapted to the upper end of the first guide section (12). The second conical guide section (13) has a second horizontal section (131) at its lower end and a second inclined section (132) located inside the second horizontal section (131). The upper end of the support body (22) is adapted to the lower end of the second conical guide section (13).
6. The flexible material handling mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The mounting assembly (1) includes a first mounting member (15) and a second mounting member (16) located above the first mounting member (15). The first conical guide (11) and the first straight guide (12) are disposed on the first mounting member (15). The first gas channel (10), the second conical guide (13) and the second straight guide (14) are disposed on the second mounting member (16). The first mounting member (15) is provided with a threaded hole, and the second mounting member (16) is provided with a threaded connection (161). The threaded connection (161) penetrates the airbag assembly (2) and is connected to the threaded hole; or, the second mounting member (16) is provided with a threaded hole, and the first mounting member (15) is provided with a threaded connection (161). The threaded connection (161) penetrates the airbag assembly (2) and is connected to the threaded hole.
7. The flexible material handling mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: It also includes a material picking rod (4), the lower end of which is connected to the mounting assembly (1), and the material picking rod (4) is provided with a second gas channel (41), the lower end of which is connected to the first gas channel (10).
8. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The material taking rod (4) is fitted with an elastic element (5) and a sleeve (6) in sequence. The sleeve (6) is provided with a first limiting part (61), and the material taking rod (4) is provided with a second limiting part (42). One end of the elastic element (5) abuts against the first limiting part (61), and the other end of the elastic element (5) abuts against the second limiting part (42).
9. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that: The sleeve (6) has anti-rotation ball bearings (63) on its side wall, and the material picking rod (4) has an anti-rotation groove (43) on its side wall. The anti-rotation ball bearings (63) are embedded in the anti-rotation groove (43).
10. The flexible material handling mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that: A guide sleeve (62) is provided between the sleeve (6) and the material taking rod (4).